Hospital Bosses Release Statement Over Chorley A&E Closure
NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals say department was closed temporarily on Monday because they were unable to staff the emergency department.
NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, have said that the A&E department was closed temporarily on Monday because they were unable to staff the emergency department.
Hospital bosses said continuing to provide a service with not enough staff members posed an unacceptable risk to patient safety.
Three doctors have now been secured to fill half of the six staffing gaps.
Read the statement here:
The board, and all our staff, along with partner agencies, are absolutely committed to reinstating the emergency department at Chorley as soon as we have the sufficient staff to ensure we can provide a safe and sustainable service, and we are all working hard to make this happen.
“We need at least 14 doctors to safely staff the departments across both hospitals, and currently have a gap of six. Currently we have potentially secured three of the doctors we need, and there are further potential candidates we are actively pursuing.
“Until we are in a position where we can reinstate the emergency department we are doing everything possible to make sure effective interim arrangements are in place so patients in both Chorley and Preston areas receive prompt and safe care - and those arrangements are currently working well.”
– Stuart Heys, Chairman of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust